Page 5 of Love Me Fearless

“Run, yes, swim, no. Though maybe I should take out one of the kayaks, make sure you don’t drown.” Hutch routinely swims in rough ocean conditions for fun, so I’m not actually worried for his safety, yet I don’t like him out there alone.

“You always take such good care of me,” he says, pulling me into a soft hug.

I wrap my arms around his waist and sigh into his chest. He smells like sun-warmed cotton and his citrusy aftershave, and his body is warm and solid, like always.

“That’s what friends are for, right?” I lean back so I can see his eyes.

He gives me a mega-watt grin. “Right.”

Back at the cabin, I let Hutch go first in the bathroom while I dig out my pajamas, then realize the loose tank top and sleep shorts I brought are not appropriate for sharing a cabin with Hutch, even though we are just friends.

When I climb down the ladder to brush my teeth, Hutch steps out of the bathroom in a pair of pajama pants slung low on his waist. I should be relieved he’s not naked—Hutch is not shy—instead my pulse starts to thump. Thanks to his intense training—most of it outdoors—Hutch’s body is honed and muscular, his skin a golden brown from the sun.

Am I drooling?

“I even left the seat down for you,” he says with a wink.

I roll my eyes and slip past him before he notices the pause in my step.

Chapter Two

I’ve sleptin sub-par locations—from barren, cold airplane hangars to soggy jungle—but it’s never hampered my ability to catch at least a few hours of shuteye. Until tonight. And it’s not the too-small couch.

It’s being in such close quarters with Ava. Wanting her but knowing she will always be off limits. I care about her too much.

“Hutch?” Ava calls softly from upstairs. “What did you mean by you might miss a lot of things?”

I blink into the darkness. “It’s eighteen months.”

“Middle East?”

I shouldn’t be surprised she’s put this together. It’s not a huge secret, but I don’t talk about my rotations in a lot of detail. “Yeah.”

“Are you excited?”

I tuck my hands behind my head. “Definitely.” I’ve been itching to get over there since I graduated from pararescue training.

Ava’s one of the only people who understands why I love my job and why the danger is an integral part of that love.

“Why didn’t you treat that girl today?” she asks.

“You’re a better doctor,” I say.

She laughs. “Even though you’ve saved more lives than I probably ever will?”

“Yeah.” I’m also not good with kids, and that is Ava’s specialty. She has a way of talking to children that puts them at ease. “I figured you could use the practice. I was standing by in case you needed an emergency trache.”

She laughs again, and I smile.

“I’m glad it didn’t come to that.”

“Me too.” I’ve never had to perform a tracheostomy on a real person before. I have no doubt I could, but I feel the same way.

“Thank you,” Ava says.

“I’ll be your wingman anytime, Greely.”

It’s quiet from the loft, then I hear the bed give a little squeak, like she’s rolling over. “Night.”

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